GLASSBORO — The Rowan University Board of Trustees passed a resolution Monday that recommends an amendment to a Senate bill introduced last week — supporting the creation of a joint board with representation from Rowan and Rutgers-Camden to oversee joint programs developed by the two institutions.

“Certain proposed legislation has been introduced into the state legislature which includes many components beneficial to Rowan and to the region, including the designation of Rowan as a research university and the development of joint programs between Rowan and Rutgers-Camden, particularly in the area of health sciences,” the resolution states.

The resolution goes on to say that while the proposed legislation does not provide for the merger of the two institutions, as currently drafted, it does create a joint board. The resolution endorses the creation of such a joint board, but only to oversee new, shared programs between the universities.

“Be it further resolved that legislation which could affect the autonomy of the Rowan governing structure requires additional analysis as to potential effects on accreditation, existing debt covenants, the impact on campus governance, the development of the Glassboro campus, the effectuation of existing and future donor commitments and other issues,” the resolution states. “The board authorizes the chair of the board, the university president and counsel to participate in all efforts to finalize pending legislation, consistent with the concepts expressed herein.”

The bill — introduced by Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) and Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex) — states that Rutgers would lease — for 99 years — its Camden holdings to the Joint Rowan University-Rutgers Camden Governing Board. Rutgers’ boards of trustees and governors said Wednesday that they were unwilling to give up control of the Camden campus but were open to discussing potential compromises with legislators.

The Rowan University Senate — made up of faculty and staff — will debate a statement in opposition to the New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, as it’s called, at a meeting on Friday afternoon.

In the statement, obtained by the Times on Sunday, the Senate says the bill, “while claiming to improve governance structure for Rowan and Rutgers-Camden,” would instead “diminish the autonomy and potential growth of both universities.”

The statement says, with such a joint governing board, no action taken by either campus board will have any authority until reviewed by the joint board.

“Not only will this process delay implementation of decisions by months, it subverts the campus boards’ explicit legislative directive to make decisions in the university’s best interests,” it reads. “Second, with three of the seven members of this joint board of governors appointed by the governor of New Jersey, and with no stipulation that these members have ties to southern New Jersey, the interests and motivations of these members will be...open to question.”

The senate statement supports the recent resolution by the Rutgers’ boards that the two institutions must maintain their “independence and autonomy.”

Rowan University Senate President Eric Milou delivered the statement at the board of trustees special meeting Monday, and proposed alternatives such as two ex-officios from both Rowan and Rutgers-Camden serving on each other’s board of trustees and the appointment of a liaison officer — funded jointly by both institutions — who would be responsible for finding ways for the two universities to coordinate efforts. Three other Rowan faculty members and one Rutgers-Camden graduate also spoke against the legislation at the meeting before the board of trustees entered into closed session.

Following the board’s resolution, Milou released a statement saying, “We are pleased that the Rowan Board of Trustees has endorsed efforts to clarify that a joint board should only have authority over new joint initiatives between Rowan and Rutgers-Camden and that both institutions must retain their individual autonomy. We support the board’s position but await changes to the legislation that will reflect these stipulations as well as details regarding funding for potential joint ventures such as a College of Health Sciences.”

Professor Sanford Tweedie, who also spoke before the board’s discussion, said he was glad to see the board take a position that “shows commitment” in doing what’s best for the university — maintaining autonomy.

Following the meeting, Rowan Interim President Ali Houshmand said the university has maintained a “positive posture” throughout talks concerning the reconfiguration of higher education in South Jersey because “we genuinely recognize that this part of the state is seriously lacking in higher education.”

Houshmand said, as it stands, South Jersey does not offer the access — especially to graduate and professional degrees — that the northern part of the state and the rest of the country provides. He again emphasized the need for a research university designation for Rowan so that the university becomes grant-eligible and can develop new graduate and professional programs.

“We want to be part of the solution in this region,” said Houshmand, adding that he hopes the board of trustees resolution will lead to an amendment to the legislation limiting the joint board’s oversight to new joint degree programs.

“We are assuming the whole notion of a merger is behind us, but this allows for the same result — increased access and more programs,” said Houshmand.

That program creation and access, he said, could be achieved through the research designation, joint program formation with Rutgers-Camden and expansion of dual enrollment and transfer programs with community colleges. Houshmand said all parties acknowledge that the changes will not be immediate and said he hopes a much-discussed capital bond would help with costs incurred as the new programs are formed. Otherwise, the costs to both universities would be substantial.

Currently, Houshmand said the university is looking at joint programs in life sciences, medicine, pharmacy, public health, nursing, allied health and food science.

“We want to put our assets together to create magnificent programs,” he said.